How The iPad Is Changing Presentation Design
- By Georgie Cousens
- Published 01/15/2011
- E-Commerce
- Unrated
You're a presentation designer. You own an Apple iPad; many of your clients own iPads, from CEOs to their Sales teams. And by now you know that the iPad is no good as a design tool, but it's great for presentation.
The iPad sold one million units within 28 days of its launch in 2010, and soon after the professional presentation designer found their work being displayed on a new device in boardrooms and auditoriums. Problem is, when your 'catwalk queen' slides are channelled through the iPad, they look more like drag queens... you know: something is 'just not right'.
Whether its Keynote design or PowerPoint design, one of the first questions you should be asking when being briefed is: "Will you be using an iPad to present?"
This is a good time to also ask what size your client's audience will be. As a presentation tool, an iPad with its 9-inch screen is effective in a one-on-one meeting, or hooked up to a projector in a small to medium-sized conference room, but not massive crowds where a remote or 'clicker' makes it easier to navigate through slides while you're pacing about a large stage.
You need to keep in mind that an iPad's screen size is 1024x768 and your slides must be sized acc
ordingly during the design process, whether you're using Keynote or PowerPoint (or even if you're using online presentation software like SlideRocket or Prezi). Next to remember is that your fonts are more limited on an iPad, so stick with the traditional font families.
Don't forget to TEST your professional presentation design work of art on an iPad before you supply your client with the final version. Final means final: if your client is tempted to make edits, minor text edits are okay to perform on the iPad, but anything more - particularly to graphics files - is best done by you, the presentation designer, before being exported for use on the iPad again.
While we're talking graphics, a design with larger elements works best if the presenter is, for instance, a salesperson who pitches to small groups or individuals, as the iPad's screen is smaller. Another tip: salespeople who do frequent one-on-one pitches should let the client hold the device and scroll through the presentation, while they talk, which encourages interaction.
Export your professional presentation design to PDF for your client to save in their iBooks folder on their iPad, just in case they need a print version handy.
The iPad has ensured that presentation design services will never be the same. Bring on the revolution!
The iPad sold one million units within 28 days of its launch in 2010, and soon after the professional presentation designer found their work being displayed on a new device in boardrooms and auditoriums. Problem is, when your 'catwalk queen' slides are channelled through the iPad, they look more like drag queens... you know: something is 'just not right'.
Whether its Keynote design or PowerPoint design, one of the first questions you should be asking when being briefed is: "Will you be using an iPad to present?"
This is a good time to also ask what size your client's audience will be. As a presentation tool, an iPad with its 9-inch screen is effective in a one-on-one meeting, or hooked up to a projector in a small to medium-sized conference room, but not massive crowds where a remote or 'clicker' makes it easier to navigate through slides while you're pacing about a large stage.
You need to keep in mind that an iPad's screen size is 1024x768 and your slides must be sized acc
Don't forget to TEST your professional presentation design work of art on an iPad before you supply your client with the final version. Final means final: if your client is tempted to make edits, minor text edits are okay to perform on the iPad, but anything more - particularly to graphics files - is best done by you, the presentation designer, before being exported for use on the iPad again.
While we're talking graphics, a design with larger elements works best if the presenter is, for instance, a salesperson who pitches to small groups or individuals, as the iPad's screen is smaller. Another tip: salespeople who do frequent one-on-one pitches should let the client hold the device and scroll through the presentation, while they talk, which encourages interaction.
Export your professional presentation design to PDF for your client to save in their iBooks folder on their iPad, just in case they need a print version handy.
The iPad has ensured that presentation design services will never be the same. Bring on the revolution!
Georgie Cousens
Georgie is Creative Director at Ideaseed, a specialist presentation design studio based in Sydney. As Creative Director she herds an international gaggle of creative geniuses who put the 'wowzers' back into presentations, motion graphics and design. Visit Georgie at IdeaSeed.com.au.
View all articles by Georgie Cousens